Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Healthcare Workers

Abstract

The recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was spread by international air travel, a direct result of globalization. The disease is caused by a novel coronavirus, transmitted from human ito human by droplets or by direct contact. Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at high risk and accounted for a fifth of all cases globally. Risk factors for infection in HCWs included lack of awareness and preparedness when the disease first struck, poor institutional infection control measures, lack of training in infection control procedures, poor compliance with the use of personal protection equipment (PPE), exposure to high-risk procedures such as intubation and nebulization, and exposure to unsuspected SARS, patients. Measures to prevent nosocomial infection included establishing isolation wards fortriage, SARS patients, and step-down; training and monitoring hospital staff in infection-control procedures; active and passive screening of HCWs; enforcement of droplet and contact precautions; and compliance with the use of PPE.

Keywords:

• severe acute respiratory syndrome
• healthcare workers
• risk factors
• nosocomial infection
• infection-control measures
• prevention